Positioning and recording information system with multi-hopping means for rescue on the sea

ABSTRACT

A positioning and recording information system with multi-hopping means for rescue on the sea. At least two stations are utilized to transmit navigation information to one another in the form of data packets. The data packets are received and temporarily stored in the stations. The steps of transmitting, receiving and storing are repeated to form a network topology which records a moving track of a station set on a ship. As the ship meets with misfortune on the ocean, the latest data packet transmitted by the ship facilitates positioning so that the disastrous position is identified. Consequently, the rescue can be started immediately and the efficiency is improved as compared with traditional ways.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a positioning and recordinginformation system, and more particularly to a positioning and recordinginformation system with multi-hopping means for rescue on the sea.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

About 70% superficial content of the earth is composed of the ocean.Accordingly, no matter how human culture and technology develop, wedepend on the ocean extremely. Nowadays many governments' ocean policiesput emphasis on the issues about ocean traffic safety, rescue on theocean and fishery resources management and so on.

Regarding to the issue of rescue on the ocean, the navigation diariestraditionally provide navigation information such as the location, speedand message of a ship. However, most navigation diaries are not helpfulto rescue immediately when a ship accident occurred, owing to thenavigation diaries damaged and lost.

At present, there are three systems used for rescue on the oceanincluding Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, Ship SecurityAlert System, and Automatic Identification System. When a ship meetswith misfortune, the three systems spread out the SOS signals throughthe Global Positioning System, and the rescue is executed in the areawhere the SOS signals are transmitted.

Because the Global Positioning System costs expensively, the shipcompany is usually burdened with huge expense and cannot afford totransmit signals frequently. The latest information received by thereceiving end is not the same as the latest information transmitted bythe ship, so there are often great mistakes in rescue on the ocean, suchas delayed rescue, wrong rescue areas, etc. In the research related tothe Automatic Identification System in LR Research Unit, the systemoften transmits insufficient messages about the destination, speed,direction and so on. The insufficient messages are often the key factorsleading to inefficient rescues on the sea.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,778,809 B2 published on Aug. 17, 2004, titled “MOBILENETWORK FOR REMOTE SERVICE AREAS USING MOBILE STATIONS” disclosed asystem and method for transmitting and receiving data in a mobilecommunication network. The system includes one or more mobile stationsfor transmitting data in a mobile digital network. The mobile stationsare configured to act as buffer/repeaters by storing and forwarding datasignals until they are received by a designated destination station. Thehopping means is utilized in the system to form a mobile network.However, in an international shipping route, the distance from onestation to an adjacent station is usually too far. The hopping meansmeets the problems below:

-   1. The data origin too far away from the destination resulting in    the excessive hop count, and the communication efficiency decreasing    with the hop count increasing.-   2. All the stations in the shipping route are not connecting all the    time so that it is often failed to transmit data signals.

Resulting from the problems mentioned above, once a ship meets withmisfortune, the received data signal is insufficient to identify theshipwreck location. It is urgent to find out the way to position moreefficiently to obtain the correct position where a ship accident isoccurred to perform rescues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problems set forth above may at least in part be solved by a systemthat is capable of utilizing the multi-hopping means to providesufficient messages about shipwrecks for positioning and rescue on thesea.

In one embodiment, the positioning and recording information system withmulti-hopping means for rescue on the sea, the characteristic is that atleast two stations utilized for transmitting, receiving and storinginformation through digital communication and Internet access for mobilevessels. The data packets are temporarily stored in the temporaryrepositories of the stations. The system comprises at least one fixedstation representing a destination station and a plurality of mobilestations. Wherein the first mobile station transmits data packets to thesecond and third mobile station and stores the data packets. After thedata packets received and stored in the second and third mobile station,the both stations transmit and store feedback data packets to the firstmobile station. In addition, the second mobile station transmits a datapacket to the third mobile station and stores the data packet. After thedata packet received and stored in the third mobile station, the thirdmobile station transmits and stores a feedback data packet to the secondmobile station. Eventually, the data packets are received and stored inthe destination station.

Every station having an identification code that is the InternetProtocol address. The fixed station could be set at a port and on abuoy. The mobile station could be set on a ship. The stations transmitdata packets to one another to form a network. After a series oftransmitting, the data packets are received and stored in thedestination station, which processes the data packets into applicableinformation. The data packets include the information such as thestation identification codes, the time when the data packets transmittedand received, and the position where the data packets transmitted andreceived etc, wherein the position is showed by the longitude andlatitude. The basis of digital communication could be the IEEE 802.11standard, the radio, the infrared ray and the Worldwide Interoperabilityfor Microwave Access. In the procedure of the data packets processed,the data packets are temporarily stored in the temporary repository ofthe stations, and the temporary repository could be a disk or a networkdisk. Besides, the data packets are composed of a plurality of bits, andthey could be composed of the binary, the octonary or the hexadecimalsystems. When the mobile stations are set on ships, the data packetsfurther comprise the navigation information such as the navigationdirection, the navigation speed, the serial number of current route planpoint, the distance from the route plan point, the estimated time ofarrival and the distance diverging from the route, etc.

The system is utilized to transmit data packets with the multi-hoppingmeans that is based on the IEEE 802.11 standard instead of the GlobalPositioning System. Without the huge expense due to the GlobalPositioning System, the ship company is able to afford to transmit andupdate signals frequently. The system improves the communicationefficiency of the network with the multi-hopping means. Thusly, wheneverand wherever a ship accident is occurred, the information needed for therescue is identified by the latest data packet that is transmitted andreceived. The identified location is therefore more closed to thedisastrous position so as to rescue more efficiently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects, as well as many of the attendant advantages andfeatures of this invention will become more apparent by reference to thefollowing detailed description, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrating transmitting way of the positioning and recordinginformation system with multi-hopping means for rescue on the sea

FIG. 2 illustrating the data packets of the positioning and recordinginformation system with multi-hopping means for rescue on the sea;

FIG. 3 illustrating more details of the transmitting way of thepositioning and recording information system with multi-hopping meansfor rescue on the sea;

FIG. 4 illustrating the station of the positioning and recordinginformation system with multi-hopping means for rescue on the sea; and

FIG. 5 illustrating the mobile station moving and transmitting to form amoving track for positioning.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more readily understood upon consideration of thefollowing detailed embodiment's description of the invention, taken inconjunction with the following drawing.

With reference to FIG. 1, at least two stations are utilized fortransmitting, receiving and storing data packets through digitalcommunication and Internet access for mobile vessels. In thesignal-transmitted area of the first mobile station 10, the informationof the first mobile station 10 is processed into a data packet 11. Thedata packet 11 is transmitted from the first mobile station 10 to thesecond mobile station 20, and is stored in the temporary repositories ofboth stations. If the third mobile station 30 exists in thesignal-transmitted area of the first mobile station 10, the informationof the first mobile station 10 is also processed into another datapacket 12. The data packet 12 is transmitted from the first mobilestation 10 to the third mobile station 30, and is stored in thetemporary repositories of both stations. After the second mobile station20 and third mobile station 30 receive the data packet 11 and 12, thefeedback data packet 13 and 14 are respectively transmitted from thesecond mobile station 20 and third mobile station 30 to the first mobilestation 10 and are stored in the temporary repositories of the stations.

In the signal-transmitted area of the second station 20, the informationof the second station 20 and the data packet received by the secondstation 20 are both processed into a data packet 21. The data packet 21is transmitted from the second mobile station 20 to the third mobilestation 30, and is stored in the temporary repositories of bothstations. The data packet 22 is also transmitted from the second mobilestation 20 to the specific mobile station 40, and is stored in thetemporary repositories of both stations. After the third mobile station30 and specific mobile station 40 receive the data packet 21 and 22, thefeedback data packet 23 and 24 are respectively transmitted from thethird mobile station 30 and specific mobile station 40 to the secondmobile station 20 and are stored in the temporary repositories of thestations.

In the signal-transmitted area of the third mobile station 30, theinformation of the third mobile station 30 and the data packet receivedby the third mobile station 30 are both processed into a data packet 31.The data packet 31 is transmitted from the third mobile station 30 tothe specific mobile station 40, and is stored in the temporaryrepositories of both stations. After the specific mobile station 40receive the data packet 31, the feedback data packet 32 is transmittedfrom the specific mobile station 40 to the third mobile station 30 andis stored in the temporary repositories of the stations.

The data packets are transmitted between a plurality of station to forma network topology and are well stored in the temporary repositories. Inthe network topology, if one of the stations meets with misfortune, thelocation where the accident is occurred is identified through the latestdata packet received by other stations.

The data packets are composed of a plurality of bits, and they could becomposed of the binary, the octonary or the hexadecimal systems. Thecontent of a data packet is showed in a 24-bits code if it includes theidentification codes of stations, the time when the data packetstransmitted and received, and the position where the data packetstransmitted and received. The position is showed by the longitude andlatitude. For example, 10:35 PM, Dec. 10, 2005, at E130°, N30°, a mobilestation coded in 197.13.24.05 transmits a data packet that is composedof the hexadecimal system. With reference to FIG. 2, the data packet isshowed in the form of 7D5C1E1623C50D1805821E01, wherein the first threebits representing year, the fourth bit representing month, the fifth andsixth bits representing day, the seventh and eighth bits representinghour, the ninth and tenth bits representing minute, the eleventh toeighteenth bits representing the identification code that is theInternet Protocol address, the nineteenth to twenty-second bitsrepresenting the east longitude and north latitude, and the last twobits representing the confirmation code of the data packet. Theconfirmation code demonstrates the transmitting states of the datapacket, wherein 00 indicating unsuccessfully-transmitting, 01 indicatingsuccessfully-transmitting and 02 indicating transmitting again. Inbrief, the information of the station is digitalized into the datapacket with different encoding ways. The encoding ways are notrestricted in the bits and information mentioned above.

With reference to FIG. 3, the data packets transmitted by the stationsare temporarily stored in the temporary repositories, wherein thetemporary repositories could be a disk and a network disk. Theinformation of the first mobile station 10 is translated into atransmittable data packet by the application program 1 of the firstmobile station 10. The data packet 11 is stored in the temporaryrepository 2 and in the meantime, the data packet 11 is transmitted fromthe first mobile station 10 to the second mobile station 20 through thehopping software 3 and the communication device 4, wherein thecommunication device 4 transmitting the data packet through an antenna.After the data packet 11 is received by the communication device 4 ofthe second station 20, it is stored in the temporary repository 2. Inthe meantime, the received information and the information of the secondstation 20 are transmitted in the form of a data packet 21 through thehopping software 3 and the communication device 4 of the mobile station20 to the third mobile station 30. After the data packet 21 is receivedby the communication device 4 of the third mobile station 30, it isstored in the temporary repository 2. In the meantime, the informationreceived by the third mobile station 30 and the information of the thirdmobile station 30 are transmitted in the form of a data packet 31through the hopping software 3 and the communication device 4 to thedestination station 50, wherein the data packet 31 including theinformation of the first mobile station 10, the second mobile station 20and the third mobile station 30. Eventually, the data packet 31 isreceived in the destination station 50, stored in the repository 5 andtranslated into applicable information by the application program 6 ofthe destination station 50.

The fixed station of the present invention could be set on a buoy and ata port. The mobile station of the present invention could be set on aship. If the mobile station is set on a ship, the data packets furthercomprises navigation information such as the navigation direction, thenavigation speed, the serial number of current route plan point, thedistance from the route plan point, the estimated time of arrival, andthe distance diverging from the route, etc. With reference to FIG. 4,the first mobile station 10 comprises a server 8, a communication device4, an antenna 7 and a power supply 16, wherein the server 8 furthercomprising an operating system 15, a hopping software 3 and a temporaryrepository 2. The operating system 15 of the server 8 transmits theinformation of the station to the hopping software 3 to form a datapacket. The data packet is stored in the temporary repository 2. At thesame time, the operating system 15 transmits the data packet to thecommunication device 4 and antenna 7 through the transmitting element 9,and further forwarding to other stations through the communicationdevice 4 and the antenna 7. Besides, the first mobile station 10receives data packets from other stations through the communicationdevice 4 and antenna 7. The received data packets are transmittedthrough the transmitting element 9 to the operating system 15, stored inthe temporary repository 2, and transmitted to other stations.

The basis of digital communication in the present invention could be theIEEE 802.11 standard, the radio, the infrared ray and the WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access. In this embodiment, the stationscommunicate on the basis of the IEEE 802.11 standard. With reference toFIG. 5, the data packet of the first mobile station 10 is transmitted toother stations by the multi-hopping means in the signal-transmittedarea. Since the first mobile station 10 keeps moving and transmittingthe data packets, the moving track of the first mobile station 10 isidentified by the destination station 50. The destination station 50processes the received data packets into applicable information forpositioning. Therefore, as a ship accident is occurred, the positionwhere the ship signal is disappeared is identified so as that the rescueis started as soon as possible.

The present invention utilizes the multi-hopping means instead of theGlobal Positioning System to transmit data packets. Accordingly, shipcompanies can afford to transmit signals frequently. The presentinvention also improves the communication efficiency of the network. Asa ship accident is occurred, the latest information received in thedestination station is more closed to the real situation as comparedwith the prior art, and the rescue could be started as soon as possible.

While the present invention has been described in connection with apreferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that many changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope of the present invention.Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all suchchanges and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A positioning and recording information system with multi-hoppingmeans for rescue on the sea, the characteristic is that at least twostations utilized for transmitting, receiving and storing informationthrough digital communication and Internet access for mobile vessels,the data packets temporarily stored in the temporary repositories of thestations, the system comprising: at least one fixed station,representing a destination station; a plurality of mobile stations;transmitting and storing data packets from the first mobile station tothe second and third mobile station; receiving and storing the datapackets in the second and third mobile station; transmitting and storingfeedback data packets from the second and third mobile station to thefirst mobile station; transmitting and storing a data packet from thesecond mobile station to the third mobile station; receiving and storingthe data packet in the third mobile station; transmitting and storingfeedback data packets from the third mobile station to the second mobilestation; and eventually the data packets received and stored in thedestination station.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationcomprises an identification code.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein thefixed station is set at a port.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein thefixed station is set on a buoy.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein themobile station is set on a ship.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein thedestination station processes the received data packets.
 7. The systemof claim 1, wherein the data packets include the information such as theidentification codes of stations, the time when the data packetstransmitted and received, and the position where the data packetstransmitted and received.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationstransmit data packets on the basis of the IEEE 802.11 standard.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the stations transmit data packets on thebasis of the radio.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the stationstransmit data packets on the basis of the infrared ray.
 11. The systemof claim 1, wherein the stations transmit data packets on the basis ofthe Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access.
 12. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the temporary repository is a disc.
 13. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the temporary repository is a network disc.
 14. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the identification code is the InternetProtocol address.
 15. The system of claim 7, wherein the position isshowed by the longitude and latitude.
 16. The system of claim 7, whereinthe data packets are composed of a plurality of bits.
 17. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the data packets are composed of the binary, octonaryand hexadecimal systems.
 18. The system of claim 7, the data packetsfurther include navigation information when the mobile station is set ona ship.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the navigation informationinclude the navigation direction, the navigation speed, the serialnumber of current route plan point, the distance from the route planpoint, the estimated time of arrival and the distance diverging from theroute.